Policy issues and Caribbean coral reefs: surfing in the perfect storm

Coral reefs provide a variety of services to the continental and island people of the Caribbean. They provide, for example, coastline protection, fish harvest, and, more recently, increased tourism. But reefs have also suffered a long history of associated destruction, resulting from, amongst other things, over-fishing, deteriorating environmental conditions (arising from both local and remote societal stresses), factors linked to globalization (trade fixated on generating foreign exchange through fish exports and coastal tourism), and natural factors such as hurricanes. While similar pressures are occurring globally, the relative scale and accelerating convergence of these major factors, which make "The Perfect Storm", are unprecedented for the Caribbean, and the small island developing states (SIDS), in particular. Stakeholders (i.e. coastal communities and governmental agencies), traditionally entrusted as custodians, are fragmented and uncompetitive compared with proponents articulating a "use-first" approach. Conservation initiatives have been uncoordinated, information management and exchange are poor, and non-governmental interventions remain relatively under-developed. Country capacities are also swamped by a multitude of less than coherent agreements, conventions, "soft law", and national and other programs. Generating change and improvements through formal policy development (which presumes a high level of rational management), or through loosely devolved community action, has not been and is unlikely to prove effective. However, an adequate basis on which to initiate interventions does exist. On this basis must be built strategies and reforms that will lead to the development and communication of a clear, informed vision, changes in national structures of governance (including change in institutional, legal and policy components), equitable and participatory mechanisms, sharing of experiences (that take advantage of modern and traditional means), and development of livelihood options in order to reduce impacts while addressing valid societal and security needs.